CHALLENGE OF THE YUKON
Challenge of the Yukon was a long-running radio series that began on Detroit's station WXYZ (as had The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet), and an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on February 3, 1938.
The program was an adventure series about Sergeant William Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police and his lead sled dog, Yukon King, as they fought evildoers in the Northern wilderness during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. Preston, according to radio historian Jim Harmon, first joined the Mounties to capture his father's killer, and when he was successful he was promoted to Sergeant. Preston worked under the command of Inspector Conrad, and in the early years was often assisted by a French-Canadian guide named Pierre.
Preston's staunchest ally, who was arguably the true star of the show and indeed often did more work than he did, was the brave Alaskan husky, Yukon King. Typical plots involved the pair helping injured trappers, tracking down smugglers, or saving cabin dwellers from wolverines. Sgt. Preston's faithful steed was Rex, used primarily in the summer months, but generally Yukon King and his dog team were the key mode of transportation (as signalled by Preston's cry of "On, King! On, you huskies!."
There is some confusion regarding King's actual breed. The producers seemed to use malamute and husky interchangeably. At least once, Preston answered "malamute" to the question from another character. In the early radio shows, the cry of "On, you huskies!" would alternate with "On, you malamutes" from show to show.
Von Reznicek's Donna Diana Overture was the pulsing theme music, and the episodes ended with the official pronouncement, Well, King, this case is closed.
Following the success of The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet, George W. Trendle, the station owner, asked for a similar adventure show, but with a dog as the hero. According to WXYZ staffer Dick Osgood, in his history of the station, Trendle insisted that it not be "a dog like Lassie because.. this must be an action story. It had to be a working dog." Writer Tom Dougall, who had been influenced by the poems of Robert W. Service, naturally chose a Husky. The dog was originally called Mogo, but after criticism by Trendle, Dougall re-christened the canine King. Dougall likewise created Sgt. Preston and the French-Canadian guide. Fran Striker, who wrote for The Lone Ranger, also contributed scripts.
However, Trendle's criticism of Dougall may have had another reason behind it. Shortly before the two Trendle series aired (The Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon), popular author Zane Grey had a book in circulation (Lone Star Ranger) about a Texas Ranger like The Lone Ranger and a comic book series in circulation (King of the Royal Mounted) about the adventures of Sgt. King, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman like Sgt. Preston. It could be that Trendle borrowed both ideas from Grey's work and wanted to retain the name "King" as a tribute to Grey, who died after a long illness one year following the first airing of Challenge of the Yukon.
Challenge of the Yukon began as a 15-minute serial, airing locally from 1938 until May 28, 1947. Shortly thereafter, the program acquired a sponsor, Quaker Oats, and the series, in a half-hour format, moved to the networks. The program aired on ABC from June 12, 1947 to December 30, 1949. It was then heard on The Mutual Broadcasting System from January 2, 1950 through the final broadcast on June 9, 1955. The title changed from Challenge of the Yukon to Sergeant Preston of the Yukon in November 1951, and remained under that name through the end of the series and into television.NOTE: Updated with Version 4 files (10-Jan-2020).
NOTE: Updated Release! New Episodes and corrected sound variances (29-Dec-2011).
From the Old Time Radio Researchers Group. See "Notes" Section below for more information on the OTRR.
Notes
OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHERS GROUP
This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers (OTRR) Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website (www.otrr.org), Old Time Radio Researchers Facebook Group, and Old Time Radio Researchers Group.
It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better sounding ones become available.
This is the Single Episodes Page. The Certified Set includes extras not found here. It is located at OTRR Certified Set. This Single Episodes page is provided in case you want to sample the shows. Note that in many cases, file names have been modified from the original OTRR names to conform to archive.org naming requirements.
If you are interested in preserving Old Time Radio (OTR), you may wish to join the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at Facebook and Groups.io.
Relax, listen, and enjoy!
OTRR Definitions:
OTRR Maintained Set -- This set contains all known episodes in the best available audio condition with the most accurate dates and titles known to be in general circulation and based on current research at the time of release. Replaces OTRR Certified Accurate and OTRR Certified Complete.
OTRR Non-Maintained Set -- A collection of shows that has not gone through the OTRR Maintenance process.
Pre-2019 OTRR Definitions:
OTRR Certified Accurate -- A series that was "Certified Accurate" indicated that all the episodes were properly identified and labeled based on current information but that the series did not contain all known extant episodes.
OTRR Certified Complete -- A series that was "Certified Complete" achieved the highest level of certification available under the OTRR Certified Standards. This certification level implied that all the files in the series were "Certified Accurate" and also indicated that the series was as complete as possible and included all circulating episodes.
OTRR Non-Certified -- A collection of shows that has not gone through the OTRR Certification process.
Also, beginning in 2019, the version numbers of our OTRR releases changed format -- instead of v1.0 or v2.1, we are now using a version number that reflects the year and month the set was released. The format used is a two-digit year followed by a two-digit month. For example, "v1906" indicates a set that was released in June 2019, or "v1910" indicates a set released in October 2019.
NOTE: There are no passwords for any of our ZIP files. If you are prompted for a password, before downloading the file again, try unzipping the file into a shorter full folder path name -- for example, unzip to "C:\" instead of "C:\Documents and Settings\your_Windows_ID\some_other_folder\". Sorry, some of our releases contain long folder and file names, which sometimes manifests itself on the Windows platform as prompting for a password for the ZIP file. Or try renaming the ZIP file itself to a shorter name before unzipping.
Reviews
Reviewer:
bstepno
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 4, 2020
Subject: Faith in a Mountie misplaced
Subject: Faith in a Mountie misplaced
That is, the file titled "Faith in a Mountie" is not that story. It is a duplicate copy of "The Showdown"
According to David Goldin's plot summaries, "faith in a mountie" should be a story about the kidnapping of a newspaper editor. I'm heading off to search for it in other archives because I would really like to hear it!
According to David Goldin's plot summaries, "faith in a mountie" should be a story about the kidnapping of a newspaper editor. I'm heading off to search for it in other archives because I would really like to hear it!
Reviewer:
OTRRArchive
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January 11, 2020
Subject: Files Updated!
Subject: Files Updated!
FYI:
Replaced files on this page from the Version 4 Release.
For the full OTRR Release, see the OTRR Certified page:
OTRR Challenge of the Yukon
- Old Time Radio Researchers Group
Replaced files on this page from the Version 4 Release.
For the full OTRR Release, see the OTRR Certified page:
OTRR Challenge of the Yukon
- Old Time Radio Researchers Group
Reviewer:
2muchtv
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 24, 2019
Subject: Start with "Swill O' Gunpowder"
Subject: Start with "Swill O' Gunpowder"
If you haven't listened to this series yet and the wonder where you might start, start with Swill O' Gunpowder." It's an engaging thriller with a hilarious twist and a most enjoyable 15 minutes of old time radio listening.
Reviewer:
foxyryan
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 7, 2016
Subject: One of the best
Subject: One of the best
I listen to this show everyday I love it
Reviewer:
drummdr999
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 17, 2015
Subject: Good job Archives
Subject: Good job Archives
I would like to say, first and foremost , I found this site about 8 years ago,, and I listen every single night of the week. I have had numerous back surgeries, and so makes a lot of time for me to enjoy all of your material. I could go through the pages all day, and still not find everything you have to offer. Thank you so much for the endless hours of entertainment.. It brings me back in time, and makes me appreciate the old time shows all the more. Very Sincerely Yours:: Russ Horcher,,, Cambridge Mn.
Reviewer:
harron68
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 12, 2013
Subject: Cold and Gold
Subject: Cold and Gold
The series DOES deserve more credit. Coming out of Detroit radio with cast similar to their other bigger hits, Lone Ranger and Green Hornet, it was vastly underrated. The true to life setting and special effects as well as a "hero" huskie and good scripts make this worth the time to listen. Of the old-time-radio shows, this belongs near the top.
Reviewer:
OTR_Dave
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 1, 2011
Subject: The mental picture!
Subject: The mental picture!
I love the Yukon Territory and have been to some of the towns depicted that are along Hwy 1. Someday we'll take Hwy 2 and see some others! Having been in the region I can picture the scenes described, the desolation, the beauty, and vast emptiness. Robert Service is also one of my favorites.
Reviewer:
Bill Holmberg
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 26, 2010
Subject: This is a hidden gem.
Subject: This is a hidden gem.
I really enjoy this show. I remember listening to it when I was a kid. (I'm 55 yrs old) The portrayal of the cold wintery scenes are very well done.
I give this show 5 stars!
I give this show 5 stars!
Reviewer:
johnmmc
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 15, 2009
Subject: Sgt. Preston of the Yukon (Challenge of the Yukon)
Subject: Sgt. Preston of the Yukon (Challenge of the Yukon)
It's hard for me to believe that no one, to date, has written a review about this mainstay of young people's (and many adults') radio listening. Even today, at age 64, I find myself chilled at the descriptions of the sub-zero temperatures that this low-paid but gallant hero and his wonder dog King faced during the Klondike gold rush in the Canadian Yukon Territory late in the 19th Century.
Also, no mention is made here of the man who portrayed Preston during much of its long run which went well beyond the coming of television. He was Paul Sutton who in real life looked nothing like the man we would imagine our hero to be. Sutton usually played heavies in budget movies and during the mid-50s tried to get into Michigan politics. He's not getting the credit he deserves.
When I listened to the show during the late 1940s and early '50s, the sponsor was Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice — announced as "the only cereals shot from guns" followed by simulated gunfire. I've read that the slogan came from an ad man who was touring the Quaker plant. He observed that these cereals were cooked in a tank that resembled a cannon (exploding like popcorn?), hence the claim and the picture of a cannon shooting out cereal on the cover of each Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rick box.
The gun on the box has disappeared, but the products taste the same, just as this vintage program today can still entertain anyone with an imagination and a sense of adventure.
JohnMc
Also, no mention is made here of the man who portrayed Preston during much of its long run which went well beyond the coming of television. He was Paul Sutton who in real life looked nothing like the man we would imagine our hero to be. Sutton usually played heavies in budget movies and during the mid-50s tried to get into Michigan politics. He's not getting the credit he deserves.
When I listened to the show during the late 1940s and early '50s, the sponsor was Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice — announced as "the only cereals shot from guns" followed by simulated gunfire. I've read that the slogan came from an ad man who was touring the Quaker plant. He observed that these cereals were cooked in a tank that resembled a cannon (exploding like popcorn?), hence the claim and the picture of a cannon shooting out cereal on the cover of each Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rick box.
The gun on the box has disappeared, but the products taste the same, just as this vintage program today can still entertain anyone with an imagination and a sense of adventure.
JohnMc
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